In case you missed it, Spencer Strider changed his number from #65 to #99 after just one season, becoming the first Braves player to wear that number. And why not? He’s got a blistering fastball that touches 99 mph, so he might as well wear the number too. With his mustache, heater, and provocative mustache, Strider is one of the most entertaining characters in baseball. Even more hilarious, the young man likens the number change to another character, a fictional one — Major League’s Ricky ‘Wild Thing’ Vaughn.
Why did Spencer Strider change his number to 99?
[Full interview: https://t.co/iTTIG1cRDz] pic.twitter.com/wz2UBxKVkP
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) November 18, 2022
Could he be any more likable? Spencer Strider just finished a historic rookie campaign in which he broke a bevy of franchise and league records. He became the fastest pitcher to reach 200 strikeouts, breaking Randy Johnson‘s record. The Braves own Huckleberry became the first pitcher in MLB history to strike out 200+ batters without giving up 100 hits in a single season. And he’s now the franchise leader in strikeouts in nine innings or less.
What he can do with a baseball is unbelievable. Strider’s stuff has an argument for being some of the nastiest in the entire league, and the Braves know it, which is why they handed him a six-year extension worth $75 million guaranteed. Adding this interesting tidbit about Ricky Vaughn to his persona only adds to his mysticism.
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John Adams/Icon Sportswire
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